Vizio takes lead in U.S. LCD-TV sales

SAN JOSE, Calif.  Vizio Inc. became the leading seller of LCD-TVs in the U.S. in 2009, leaping over giants Samsung and Sony by nearly doubling its 2008 shipments, according to the latest figures from market watcher iSuppli Corp.

Samsung held on to the top spot in the broader category of flat-panel TVs, thanks in part to its strength in plasma as well as LCD-based TVs. Samsung's U.S. flat-panel television shipments rose to 6.6 million units in 2009, up 22.6 percent from 5.4 million units in 2008, giving the Korean giant a 18.4 percent market share down from 18.5 percent in 2008.

Vizio jumped into the lead in LCD TV shipments in the US last year, but Samsung still dominates in overall flat-panel TV sales. Source: iSuppliClick on image to enlarge.

For its part, U.S.-based Vizio shipped 5.9 million units, up 92.1 percent from 3.1 million sets in 2008. The company's market share rose to 18.7 percent up from 12.6 percent in 2008 when it was ranked in third place.

The overall U.S. LCD-TV market grew at 29 percent in unit sales in 2009, according to iSuppli. Worldwide sales of LCD-TVs were up 37 percent in 2009, according to a new report from DisplaySearch.

Vizio "already established itself as the price leader in LCD-TVs," but added high-end products last year sporting LED backlights and Internet connectivity, said Riddhi Patel, director, television systems and retail services for iSuppli.

For its part, "Samsung maintained its overall leadership in the U.S. flat panel television market due to the continued success of the LED-backlit LCD TVs and its strong price competitiveness in both value and premium TV segments," Patel said.

Also making a strong showing, Japan's Toshiba Corp. saw 81.7 percent increases in unit shipments in both LCD and flat-panel TVs in 2009. The company jumped from sixth to fourth place among LCD TV makers and from sixth to fifth place in overall flat-panel TVs, said iSuppli.